HSI International Operations oversees the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP), a host-country-led initiative in which HSI trains and equips foreign counterparts to conduct tactically targeted collection of biometric and biographic data on suspect individuals via mobile biometric collection devices.
BITMAP aims to strengthen law enforcement investigation, border security and counterterrorism efforts in the U.S. and in partner nations by providing foreign law enforcement with biometric/biographic collection capability. Through the program, HSI seeks to mitigate criminal and cross border illicit activity in the U.S. and in foreign partner nations. BITMAP’s focus is to provide specialized technical equipment and advisory support to HSI foreign law enforcement counterparts for the collection of biometric and biographic data from third-country nationals in support of criminal investigations.
Foreign law enforcement partners share their BITMAP information with HSI in a joint effort to identify transnational criminals, “Known or Suspected Terrorists” (KST), gang members and other persons of interest. Information shared through BITMAP may provide U.S. border security, consular and law enforcement agencies with the information necessary to prevent known criminal and terrorist threats from entering the United States. The strategic vision of the BITMPAP program is to develop a high-impact global network of foreign law enforcement partners whose biometric collection and investigative missions are mutually beneficial and inextricably intertwined with HSI’s goal to protect the homeland.